MagpieMania

A picture, and a poem:

2010-03-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Love, we must part now: do not let it be
Calamitious and bitter. In the past
There has been too much moonlight and self-pity:
Let us have done with it: for now at last
Never has sun more boldly paced the sky,
Never were hearts more eager to be free,
To kick down worlds, lash forests; you and I
No longer hold them; we are husks, that see
The grain going forward to a different use.

There is regret. Always, there is regret.
But it is better that our lives unloose,
As two tall ships, wind-mastered, wet with light,
Break from an estuary with their courses set,
And waving part, and waving drop from sight.

- Philip Larkin

Vintage Treasure Hunting:

2010-02-28T13:59:00.000-07:00

Some ~~recent~~ not so recent aquisitions:

I found this (wrinkly, sorry) dress at my favorite Arc- and to be honest I actually grabbed it with a friend in mind but once I tried it on (you know, to check how it works off the hanger! Because I'm such a good friend!) it was too late. It was mine. And it ended up being my New Year's dress. It came buttonless when I bought it, so I added these silver crosshatched ones myself.

I cannot take hunting credit for this one- it's all Melina. Best Christmas present ever? Maybe! It's so great that it kind of makes me feel bad that I got her ramekins. But they were milkglass! And she collects milkglass! Oh fine, you win this round, lady.

And I forgot to include my pocketbook in my round of up Amsterdam thrift finds. I love this thing. I don't even care that it's dirty, so much, although maybe that's more a product of laziness than Highly Developed Artistic Eye. And I'm also pretty sure everyone thinks my 80s beaded purse (which I also wore on NYE) is hideous (I know my boyfriend does!) but maybe they need to work on their Highly Developed Artist Eye as well. So there.

Lauren Explains Clarissa Explains It All:

2010-02-14T13:06:00.001-07:00

Na na nana... Na na na na na! Hey Cool!

Clarissa, anyone? Are you singing along with me? No? Maybe this will jog your memory:

I effing LOVED Clarissa Explains It All when I was a kid. That dorky dad? Totally my dad! That hippie mom? Well, not my mom at all, but whatev!

Notice that for this opening song, Nickelodeon decided to dress her like a hooker. The show was just that edgy! However, I decided a good round of imaginary dress up was appropriate here. Lets pretend Clarissa didn't somehow morph into a mediocre teenage witch, and instead went on with her life, and her crazy/awesome wardrobe:

A little rock and roll, a little off kilter (And and and! See the lizard ring? Total nod to her pet iguana, Elvis. Fangirl, right here.)

EDIT: I have been informed by a source far more knowledgeble in these matters than me that Elvis was not, in fact, an iguana, but an alligator. omgembarrassing. Thanks, Aurora!

Clockwise: Hat, All Saints; Shirt, Hot Topic; Suspenders, La Garconne; Skirt, General Pants; Shoes, Browns; Ring, Cabiri.

A little grunge, a little girly.

Jacket, Ashish; Dress, Anna Sui; Bracelets, H&M; Earrings, YSL; Boots, Net-A-Porter.

A little boyish, a little tongue in cheek.

And I actually lost all the sources for this one! Oh well, it's probably all from H&M anyway.

So, okay, now that I've whet your appetite, immerse yourself in an episode here (about a new friend who steals her style no less- how apropos) and let me know if I've hit the mark or not.

PS! Sorry (to anyone who was really agonized over it) about the total post drop-off this past ten days or so. Lately my life's been wack. Wiggity wack, even. Yeah, just like that.

Givenchy spring 2010 couture

2010-02-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

The Givenchy couture show is always such a total gorgeous mindblow. There's something otherworldly and dark about it that I really love. Tim Burton wishes he were Givenchy, I think. Anyway, S/s '10 was no exception- I could leave the garments, but the makeup was so fantastic.

Kind of inspired to actually learn how to apply some serious eye make up now, beyond mascara. Anyone have any good tips or tutorials? Link me, home skillets!

Photos from Style.com and Jak & Jil.

Dreaming, x2:

2010-02-02T21:01:00.001-07:00

These Missoni towels are not in my near future for a lot of reasons.

Money, weather... Ah, well. At least there's blogging about it.

If you happen to live in a warm climate/the southern hemisphere, and are so inclined, check it out here.

Makeup, interrupted:

2010-02-01T22:06:00.000-07:00

Who knew makeup could be so pretty, all on its own:

Photographs by Eric Maillet from T Magazine.

Furry:

2010-01-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

I just got a package with a bunch of my great grandmother's things! There's a kimono robe (that is gorgeous but I need to take in the cleaners), a ridiculously soft honey cashmere coat (that definitely needs to be taken to a tailor before I wear it outside of my house- that's for another post) and a couple fur coats!

They even have her name embroidered on the inside.

Now I just need to figure out where I'm going to wear them. Maybe not tonight though, when I go out for some vegan cupcakes and tea.

J.D. Salinger Died Today:

2010-01-28T16:29:00.001-07:00

It's not particularly relevant to my usual content, but I can't help making a note about it. Perhaps it's trite, but he has been my favorite author for as long as I've been reading anything more complex than The Babysitter's Club.

I could leave Catcher in the Rye- it's wonderful, but not for me- but the Glass family had me captured from the beginning. He writes them for himself- it's evident in every line. He knows them so completely. It's hard not to envelope yourself in that sort of totally enthusiastic, selfish writing. His short stories are so profoundly filled with emotion. Raise High The Roofbeams, Carpenters, is comical in a way a lot of his work isn't- sort of a wry, well-fuck-it humor runs through it. And Seymour: An Introduction is my favorite of all. It's practically stream of consciousness writing, beat in it's own way, takes a read or two to really get through, and the shortest way I can explain it is that for me, it's not of this earth.

Sorry, I fangirled out there for a second. I'll get a hold of myself. Anyway.

The promising, if somewhat crass, high note of this is that he has scores of unpublished work, earmarked to be released only after his death. Hapworth 16, 1924, I've been waiting for you for a long time.

Perhaps all my stars are out tonight. I hope his are too.

Image from the NYT.

Hello, Lovely:

2010-01-27T20:32:00.001-07:00

Ladylike meets the stripper heel. The perfect formula

Replace the opaque wedge with lucite and I would probably find it in myself to pay the $390 for these.

Find them at Kurt Geiger, if you are so inclined.

Rick Owens Makes My Heart Beat Hard:

2010-01-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

You know who else I have a man/girl crush on? Rick Owens. I didn't know that much about him- and still don't really- other than that I love his aesthetic, and anyone with that kind of design style must be pretty roxor. But then I stumbled upon this T Magazine article. So now my love for him has moved into the realm of personal.

Some personally selected dark/moody/odd eyecandy from the piece:

Swoon.

Wandering Eye:

2010-01-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Blogger is vexing me. Why won't it let me link in the buttons above to my own posts and pages and profiles? Oh my. I'm seriously flirting with Wordpress right now.

Lost:

2010-01-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

Nope, not the show. I'm a Lost Virgin still. It's for the best, really. I get sucked into things far too easily. I can't even glance at Maury without delaying my whole day because I have to know who the father is.

But I do lose things. A little too often, actually. I've gotten better in recent years, but I can't help thinking about some of the things that have sauntered through my life and into the great beyond. Mostly, it's socks (some really good socks too, from when I was a rower). A cropped bright yellow puffer jacket. A pair of perfectly worn in chucks.

The one I really still think about, though- the one that really got away- is an old school sweatshirt. I went to school in Saudi Arabia for a while (Dhahran Academy, holla back!) and I had the most perfectly worn in red sweatshirt with our school mascot, a scorpion, on it. We had a good life together, until one day I left it at the gym. I can't really blame whoever took it, I guess. I mean, it had a scorpion on it. It was pretty badass.

But oh, that is my lament. Tell me yours. What painful memories do you have of things that you've lost, or given away later to regret (especially now that the 90s are all sorts of in our face)?

Photo from Sunshinecity

Lady Gaga, Sugar and Spice:

2010-01-23T08:43:00.001-07:00

Are you firmly on the side of Gaga Fandom yet? Oh, you're not sure?

Maybe if we bribe you with a cookie:

Okay, how about now?

Found at Refinery29.

Emily Miranda:

2010-01-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Emily Miranda = new completely futile jewelry crush. I love the way her jewelry is natural- it's beautiful but also at times rather macabre, the way nature itself frequently is. See for yourself:

Oh, and also:

She makes cakes too.

Peter Marino, You Steal The Show:

2010-01-18T19:49:00.006-07:00

Are any of you familiar with the architect Peter Marino? If not, you can familiarize yourself with his work here, but that's only incidental. His design style doesn't even begin to thrill me as much as his personal style does.

It's not that I'm into leather daddies (though God knows, I do love me some cowhide.) It's just that I love people who are just exactly how they are. And Peter Marino manages to make styling yourself after a Tom of Finland drawing (nsfw-ish) made flesh completely endearing Can't help but respect that.

Is it possible to have a girl crush on a man?

Hermione Pop:

2010-01-16T18:55:00.007-07:00

Are any of you getting ready to go out too? If so, allow me to provide you with distraction:

The Passenger - Iggy Pop

Emma Watson and Iggy Pop. I want to see them in a movie together. Like An Education, but dirtier and way more rock. Are you with me? Lets petition for this.

Okay, so now I'll stop distracting you if you stop distracting me. Because I am resolving to stop being the last person to arrive, and I really need to repaint my nails, because they are painted white, but then I drew with sharpie over them, then the sharpie rubbed off, and now it just sort of looks like I have a fungus.

So lets go do our thing. And in the mean time, think of what supporting characters we will have in our Hermione Pop movie, and what the soundtrack and locations will be. Get back to me.

photos via bonerparty and Tumbling Dice.

A Place For Everything:

2010-01-14T17:54:00.003-07:00

Sometimes, I think I have pigeonholed my interests a little too much in this blog.

Then I run across Third and Delaware and think that I have not pushed pigeonholing far enough. If you're interested in fashion highlights from every single episode of Roseanne, well there you go.

A sampling:

When your little sister is about to pop out a little sprog, it’s probably a good idea to be wearing something comfortable. You might have to be sitting on one of those uncomfortable waiting room chairs for hours, anxious to hear the results of all those hours of breathing and pushing. Also, you need something that will look snappy if you have to put on some scrubs and assist in the delivery room. Lucky for Roseanne, she’s invested in a pair of geometric print leggings! They can carry her from pre-labour jitters to postnatal forehead mopping. She can do all these things, and with style, too!

God, I love the internet.

Malia? If You're Reading This, Avert Your Eyes:

2010-01-12T17:33:00.006-07:00

Hi guys! What have I been doing when I'm not updating? Painting:

So, some story on this painting. I took a little trip to Amsterdam this past fall, and stayed with my lovely friend Malia (not to be confused with Melina.) When the sad day of my departure came, I was planning on walking to the station to catch my train to the airport, but Malia wanted to see me off, but also had to be at work shortly after leaving me and wouldn't have time to walk with me. So naturally, in standard Dutch commuter fashion, she had me hop onto the back of her bike, and drag my suitcase behind me. Malia, it is also worth mentioning, is pretty pocket-sized.

It was the best possible goodbye to Amsterdam I could have had.

Anyway, so that's the story behind the painting. Today it's off to the printers, and then the post, and then into Malia's hands.

A Moisturizer Miracle:

2010-01-09T14:02:00.004-07:00

Winter has been completely wreaking havoc on my skin. Cold weather, precipitation, heaters- oy. It has been extra bad this year. Around Thanksgiving, my skin began a horrible downward spiral. It was seriously awful- chapped, red welts, it hurt to the touch, and my regular moisturizer made it sting in a rather alarming way. One emergency trip to the drugstore later and:

No, seriously. I cannot say enough about the Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. Within a day, my skin was already starting to calm down, and a week later it is almost completely back to normal. And this chic, elegant tub is only $12! It may not be the prettiest packaging, but the most important packaging is the one on your face anyway.

Clearly, I Have Good Ideas:

2010-01-06T22:19:00.006-07:00

I mean, for god's sake:

Keira Knightley by Annie Leibovitz for Vogue US December 2005 via Foto Decadent.

Well, truthfully, I still like my restyling of the Wizard of Oz better, but that photo of the wizard kills me. Hello, new desktop background.

New Year's Resolutions Made Simple:

2010-01-04T20:09:00.008-07:00

Happy new year internet friends! Do you have new years resolutions? Last year, I decided to go the easy route, and my resolution was to floss. I would not say it was an undeniable success. Sorry, Dr. Paini.

Anyway, my resolution this year is simple, but a little less on the careless side. It is this:

Say yes.

I'll let you know how it goes. And, in the meantime, I'll keep working on the flossing thing. But I think the thing about resolutions, particularly of the New Year's variety, is it's best to keep it light, achievable, and dare I say uplifting. No one needs to start a whole new year all downers and rules.

I think a good resolution would be to try a new nail polish. Think of it this way: it shakes things up a bit. It gets you to try something you wouldn't ordinarily, and have the results of that right there at your finger tips as a constant visual cue. I believe that small alterations can be big motivators when it comes to taking the steps towards larger change.

So here, I'll get you started:

Clockwise from top left: Ocean Love Potion, 212, Classic Red, Darkroom, Worth My Weight. Yes, they're all OPI, because OPI doesn't chip no matter what you do. Best ever.

It's the quickest reinvention ever!

What are your new years resolutions? Do you have any?

Show me something pretty:

2009-12-30T19:07:00.004-07:00

Is the full moon/lunar eclipse/retrograding mars combo fucking with anyone else?

Just me?

Okay.

Sequins and Sparkles for New Year's Eve:

2009-12-27T19:36:00.017-07:00

What is it about all the end-of-year holiday celebrations that lets us dress crazier than normal? Ice cold air? Visibility-limiting early sunsets? The fact that the tree is covered in tinsel so we might as well be too? All the sequins and feathers and sparkles finally come out of the closet. I wish we all dressed like this year round, but lets at least make the most of this time for now, yes?

Here, I'll get you started with the ridiculous:

Wrap a necklace around your head to make an instant headdress. Tuck in some feathers if you don't feel outlandish enough yet. Gather up all your brooches and pin them all on at once in a cluster. On your lapel, on a wide fabric headband, on a big piece of felt for a necklace. Wherever most needs sparkle. Wear an ornate mask, like these from Tom Banwell (pictured above). Put seashells and coral in your hair. Sew sequins onto your tights. Use sparkly liquid eyeliner to paint stars on your face. Or at least swipe on a nearly-neon lipstick.

Really, just do it! It will never be more right than it is this very week.

PS: Garance Dore, Forever 21, Topshop, Le Blog De Betty, Tom Banwell, unsure.

Feliz Navidad!

2009-12-25T10:05:00.003-07:00

This will have to be my wrapping paper next year. But for now, I'm going to drink tea and read my new book (thanks Jess!) in my new hat (thanks other Jess!) until it's time to go out for Hibachi and Sherlock Holmes (yes, he won the coin toss.)

So happy holidays, Bloggish folk!

Source: Craig Knowles photography via {this is glamorous}

A Single Man:

2009-12-23T12:33:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite things about winter (and trust me, Favorite Things are scarce in this weather for me) is that suddenly there are all sorts of movies to see again. This one in particular:

A Single Man is a long awaited adaptation of the book of the same name by Christopher Isherwood. For those unfamiliar, the story deals with homosexuality in such a matter-of-fact manner that was nearly unheard of at the time of it's publication in the mid 60s, and remains a landmark piece of literature today.

The main thing here, though, is that Tom Ford is directing, and honestly, that alone is reason enough for me to see it. Just look at all that mid-century, gilded visual candy! Although really, candy isn't the right word for this at all. It's more like visual steak- or visual foie gras? This is not dessert, it's the meal. (Can you tell I'm counting the minutes until the lunch hour right now?)

So expect to find me, this Christmas day, snuggled up with a glass of wine and toasted pecans at my favorite local theater (I'm looking at you, Mayan!).

Unless, of course, my boyfriend wins the coin toss and we end up seeing Sherlock Holmes instead.

Has anyone seen it yet? I think it's been out for some time in other regions. What did you think?

Lately:

2009-12-22T18:17:00.004-07:00

That is all.

Don't Mind Me:

2009-12-13T22:10:00.005-07:00

Just on a bit of a vacation.

But I leave you with this holiday conversation snippet:

Regarding Fertility: A play in three lines.

MOTHER:
But you can't wait too long you know. Just look at all the trouble your cousin Fernanda had. And she's a doctor!

DAUGHTER:
(sputtering, incredulous that she is actually having the you're-going-to-dry-up-someday conversation at the ripe old age of twenty four)

What difference does it make that she's a doctor? And isn't she an optometrist?

MOTHER:
Ay, chica, she still had to go to medical school.

Oh, family holiday visits. Please, humor me and submit your own scriptlettes. Solace in solidarity, my friends.

Photo found at Memories of a Goldfish.

Omgzholyeffinbrrr:

2009-12-07T19:40:00.003-07:00

I am really, really, really, really cold right now.

Normally, I'm just really cold, so you can see how dire this is. Seven degrees outside! That just shouldn't be allowed. It's so cold outside I can't even get warm inside, and I haven't taken off my coat and scarf yet even though I've been home for an hour.

Sometimes, you just need to wrap yourself in something ridiculous and shaggy.

Clockwise from top right: French Connection Bigfoot Coat, Karl Donoghue A-line shearling gilet, Sonia Rykiel Mongolian Trim Wool Coat, Topshop Boxy Faux Fur Chubby Coat.

Okay, now I'm going to go get back under my down blanket. With my boots still on.

Why do you tease me so, Louboutin:

2009-12-03T23:07:00.004-07:00

I love these:

but I would hurt myself.

112909:

2009-11-30T09:08:00.002-07:00

Yesterday was the hardware store (oy), the fabric store (yay!), locking my keys in the car while outside of the city (shit), having a friend have a nearby locksmith to get us back in the car within a half hour (yay!), ravioli and crafts and Southpark with a friend (Mmmm...).

And also this:

This dress used to be a shirt, which I cut up and sewed back together to be more fitted, but I erred on the side of less fitted and had to finish the job with a belt for today. I'll give it another go soon enough, probably when I'm done obsessively making Christmas crafts.

Heaven And Earth:

2009-11-28T08:33:00.001-07:00

Oh my god. We already know that I have an unhealthy love for Navajo print. Did we also know that I am weirdly into pictures from outer space, particularly from the Hubble? Well, now we do.

Now lets find out what happens when they are combined, in this Mociun lookbook photographed by Kara Healy:

I might have just exploded into my very own super nova. Now I just need to find my own source of galactic-print fabrics, and I'm ready to die/craft.

Found via The Storque blog at Etsy, via my friend Jess who pretty much knows exactly what I like always.

Sorry I Missed You:

2009-11-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Lately, obsessing over illustrator Sophie Blackall's mindblowing series of Missed Connections:

Prints, available here, have definitely made my holiday wish list.

112309

2009-11-23T18:57:00.005-07:00

First day at my new job today! It feels like the first day of school.

Seriously, I might as well have pig tails and a lunch box.

Anjelica Huston:

2009-11-22T18:00:00.003-07:00

So much love for her:

I wouldn't mind being her when I grow up. Or now.

Errant Outfits

2009-11-20T17:01:00.004-07:00

Some outfits I never ended up posting. Cleaning up yo!

See, Mom? I do include the occasional color. All black psh!

We're Off To See The Wizard:

2009-11-18T16:16:00.004-07:00

So, I watched the Wizard of Oz a few days ago, and it turns out I just don't really dig it. I think the fact that I'm not a huge fan of musicals (except for the Sound of Music, duh) probably has a lot to do with it. I just always wish I could fast forward through the songs.

And there are a lot of songs in the WOO. (Yeah, that's right I abbreved it. No time for songs, no time for titles.

The other problem is the wardrobe is kind of meh. So I nominate myself to get the ball rolling on an up-to-date version, and I will allow the occasional bit of song and dance, if in return I am allowed a scene where Dorothy, Glenda, the Wicked Witch, and the Cowardly Lion all meet up at a fancy-ass party.

Check it:

Dorothy has kind of a Pollyanna Cowgirl, fresh-off-the-farm thing going on, you know? So I gave her a change of shoes, because there's a lot of walking. Yellow brick road and all.

Also, the Cowardly Lion is now a woman, because that is more fun for Imaginary Dress Up purposes. And any self proclaimed King/Queen would probably go for a lot of gold, and of course the fur.

On to Glenda the Good Witch. Oh, Glenda. Kind-hearted when it suits her, helpful if it's not too much work. The way I understand her, she's not so much Good as Benign. Something of a self-involved bore, and a classic girly-girl.

And finally, the Wicked Witch. She is probably the most fun to dress up. She doesn't eat carbs but instead lives off of nail polish fumes and caviar, and she reads the Wall Street Journal and Vogue, and uses up an eyeliner pencil a day. And I kind of want all of her accessories. In fact, I think I will cast myself in this remake, while I'm at it.

111609:

2009-11-17T08:56:00.004-07:00

Going out for popcorn and crafting and minor acts of mayhem last night:

The boots are new, and hail from Urban. I'd been stalking them online for a while, and as soon as they went on sale I had my debit card out. They are without a doubt my new favorite shoes. They can do no wrong, and remain on my good side even when I had to walk through the snow in them last night, and more or less scoop the cold stuff into the open toes. Luckily my friends are nice enough to give me piggy-back rides. (Thanks Tymla!)

Miami is Nice, So I'll Say It Thrice:

2009-11-16T16:15:00.007-07:00

Miami is nice; Miami is nice. Golden girls? Anyone?

Ahem. Anyway. Knit wear and South Beach. Made for each other?

The Big Chill
Photographer: Horst Diekgerdes
Stylist: Camille Bidault-Waddington
Model: Kate Somers

Source: TFS

Treasures:

2009-11-11T15:22:00.003-07:00

Is it bad that, if asked to make a list, Thrifting would definitely be in my top hobbies? Oh, but at least I know all you bloggers can relate. It's like treasure hunting. So so satisfying.

Some of my recent thrift finds:

The shoes were both found second hand in Amsterdam- and yes, Dutch thrift stores are the dream you imagine they might be. Heartbreaking, the things I had to leave behind in the name of making weight on my luggage.

The woven and leather bag I found at a garage sale by my house- it's a bit dark and dirty on the bottom, but I haven't figured out how to clean it without ruining the leather, so I just use it all the same anyway.

This is I think a belt, but I wear it as a necklace. A very, very heavy necklace. I can now empathize with Mr. T.

And this bag, I cannot take credit for. My lovely friend Melina found it and mailed it to me from Chicago, because (and I vaguely quote: it reminded her of something an old Jewish lady in New York would own, so of course she thought of me. And she was right. I heart it so hard. Particularly the tiny change purse, attached by a thin gold chain to the purse itself, and the accompanying mirror and case. I nearly hyperventilated when I opened the package. Ohmygodbestfriendever.

Cranial Accessories:

2009-11-09T17:17:00.004-07:00

(Alternately: "You've got a lot of shit on your head.")

In the market for a good LV bunny ear alternative? Then check out the no-more-reasonably-priced Benoit Missolin:

I sense a DIY coming on, particularly in the form of the black floppy number in the top right. Because I'm just not in a place in my life where I can spend $234 on a headband. Eye candy and copyright infringement inspiration purposes only, here.

Will you V Mine:

2009-11-04T16:46:00.002-07:00

Sweet-looking girl giving bitchface. Nothing better.

V Magazine scans from WWD.

Pretty Shiny Things:

2009-11-03T18:21:00.003-07:00

Spent some time at the nature and science museum yesterday. Possible new career #32: Gemologist?

Sweats:

2009-10-31T13:47:00.005-06:00

I'm so obsessed with sweatshirt jersey. I just want to make everything out of it- blankets, pillows, cocktail dresses, fancy shorts, slippers. I have a long to-do list, but it's worth it because sweatshirt jersey makes everything better.

So gorgeous! I may have to make another version of my sweatshirt poncho that's more tailored, like this.

Photos from Jak & Jil.

I'll Get Dressed If I Want To:

2009-10-28T22:55:00.000-06:00

So, I absolutely have to get dressed every day. No matter what I'm doing. I love the idea of spending all day in my PJs, but no matter how lazy a day I'm having, around 11 AM I feel the pull of my closet. Otherwise, I just feel so... unprepared? slovenly? I don't know. I have all kinds of weird compulsions that could use some psychological nancy drew work, but for now, I just try and find the compromise between them and life as regular people live it. Like finding clothes that are comfy enough to be pajamas, while still acceptable to go out in.

So, on that note, meet the Jeffrey Monteiro Spring '10 lookbook:

I want all of this. The colors, the cut, the soft material. I would wear all of this, every day and every night. Jeffrey Monteiro, please be mine.

Found on Refinery29.

Menswear:

2009-10-27T20:59:00.004-06:00

Phew! I have just had the absolute craziest six weeks, and they went by in a rush and ended with a thump, and now I can breath again.

So I'm going to unwind with some imaginary dress up again, made all the more imaginary by being actual menswear:

Apparently, the male version of myself isn't so crazy with color either. I'm going to have to challenge myself soon to a week of bright outfits, I think. And to do so, I'm going to have to borrow from my friends closets (Hi Jess!).

Meanwhile, does anyone know any good style/outfit blogs created by an actual guy? The only one I really have in my regular blog rotation right now is the fantastic Getting Beat Like You Stole Something, and I wouldn't mind discovering a few others.

Row by row from top left: Flannel shirt, AE; Vest, no longer available from Brown's; Long sleeved T, Gap; Bag, Nike; Rubber Nixon watch, Tilly's; Grey Levi's cutoffs, Tilly's; Grey button-down, Tilly's: Lace-up boots, Aldo; Pointy boots, Aldo; Scarf, Gap; Tennis shoes, Aldo; Skinny jean, Pacsun;

You say neurosis, I say psychosis:

2009-10-20T20:53:00.003-06:00

Me: Oh hey Lauren, what are you working on?

Me: Just making nipple pasties. Why do you ask?

Me: Sometimes it's important to ask the hard hitting questions.

Me: Well, can we talk about this later? I'm up to my ears in eyelash glue and tassels right now, and I haven't even started on the brocade hand cuffs yet.

And SCENE.

Hey hey hey, I love cream and black and gray:

2009-10-19T09:13:00.003-06:00

And I also love rhyming.
Just doing some window shopping. Meet my imaginary wardrobe:

I need to branch out of my color palate a little more. That is why I included cream! Yes, I'm a risk taker.

Clockwise from top left: Extra-soft Beige Cashmere Long Scarf - Forzieri; Miu Miu Wool-blend fringed cardigan, Net-A-Porter; Lutz & Patmos Padded Cardigan, La Garconne; Stripe Sweat Beanie Hat, Topshop; Splendid Cap-sleeve jersey body suit, Net-A-Porter; 3.1 Phillip Lim Lace-detailed leather gloves, Net-A-Porter; Bunny Sweater, French Connection; Leather Triangle Skirt, Topshop; 3.1 Phillip Lim Sequined-back Black Marabou Jacket, Net-A-Porter.

I have a problem:

2009-10-15T11:27:00.003-06:00

The fact that I love this Opening Ceremony coat so so much makes me think that maybe I've lived in the wild wild west (wiki wiki wah!) for too long. Please call me on it immediately if anyone sees me sporting Kokopelli jewelry or decorating my home with dream catchers, because I think I might be heading in that direction.

Night Animals:

2009-10-13T13:01:00.004-06:00

Hey, remember this mood board? Of course you do. You probably wrote about it in your diary. It was a big day in your life, I know.

Anyway, here are some previews of the shoot that said mood board was for:

I came up with the idea and styled the shoot, although you can't see much of the wardrobe styling anyway thanks to the big hair and coats, and there was only so much on-set fidgeting that could be done thanks to the seriously abominable weather conditions.

The model was so hardcore. It was nineteen degrees out, with snow on the ground, and not only did she not complain, but she rocked it. Please note, the weather was not planned. In fact, we did it early in the year so that we WOULDN'T have to torture a model this way. But fate conspired against us.

The rest of the spread will be up in a new online zine, coming out at the end of the month!

B!

2009-10-12T22:32:00.005-06:00

1. Hi, I'm back!

2. I added some links, finally. But it's still a WIP- I'm sure I'm leaving out some blogs that I love. So let me know if you want to be up there, or trade links or what have you.

3. Amsterdam was nasty:

Nasty like a fox. In a good way. It was amazing and gorgeous and charming, is what I'm saying.

Click below for more photos!

Frankly, I'm surprised I came back.

092509:

2009-09-26T07:09:00.003-06:00

Oh you guys. I miss you already!

I actually haven't left yet. Turns out being hyper-prepared entails both getting up hella early, and also already having all your shit together from the night before. So I have some spare minutes for some breakfast and blogging.

Anyway, apparently it really is fall out- nothing like coming back from Florida to 38 degrees. So, I am armed accordingly:

With my best bitchface. This particular bitchface is getting ready to show fall what's what. Bring it. On.

Because yeah, fine, it's cold out. But at least now I get to break out the sweatshirt poncho and fringe jacket again. You hear that fall? I ain't runnin'.

Be Back Soon:

2009-09-26T06:27:00.003-06:00

Sorry for the Very Bad Blogging- I'm back from Florida but am leaving for Amsterdam this very hour. Ahhh!

I leave you with this: Dam Style.

brb guys.

Even As I Left Florida:

2009-09-22T21:59:00.007-06:00

You can't go home again, but damned if you aren't obliged to visit from time to time.

Quick weekend trip to Merritt Island, Florida this past weekend to see family. I grew up overseas, moving from place to place a lot, but I always had family in Merritt Island, so it was something of a constant for me.

More occasionally macabre image-heaviness below.

I used to use the abundant Spanish moss to make wigs and clothing. Looking at it now, the thought of that makes my eyes immediately start watering with allergies. Oh, youth.

I also played in this graveyard a lot. That sounds all weird and goth, but it's right by my grandparents house, and I guess it wasn't playing so much as wandering around. Not exactly a place for tag, but still pretty.

One thing that I love about Florida, besides the sweltering heat that is probably the only time I feel warmth actually permeating my bones, is the way everything is grown over and swallowed by ferns and foliage. It's a nice reminder that nature always, always wins, and all we're doing is fighting it off for as long as we can hold out.

Moody:

2009-09-15T17:19:00.002-06:00

Thought I'd post this mood board for a project I'm working on:

To be revealed!

PS Man, it has been collage-y up in here lately. I'll curb that soon. Maybe.

Spring 1:

2009-09-14T13:14:00.003-06:00

Ctrl C Ctrl V

2009-09-10T10:52:00.004-06:00

Just mucking around in my image folder and making collages.

Can you tell I'm not really feeling fall yet? I'm not quite done with roots and sunshine. But I'm trying.

Images, not in order, from Luxirare, Atlantis Home, Ffffound, The Sartorialist, The New York Times, Design Sponge Online, and I'm not quite sure.

Not At Your Age:

2009-09-08T09:08:00.004-06:00

Well, I just reorganized my schedule, and it seems the only beverage I will be consuming for the next month and a half is caffeine! I have a lot of shit to do, is what I'm saying.

At least if it prematurely ages me, I can look forward to The Old Ladies' Rebellion:

As someone who has been graying since the age of 13, I totally dig this. Link your grandmas!

Found via Refinery 29.

I'm down with O.P.P.:

2009-09-02T17:18:00.007-06:00

As in Other People's Posts. Why, what did you think it stood for?

Lulu has hunted down and posted Episode 2 of Season 2 of The Rachel Zoe project. Go here to get it while it's hot.

Iro, discovered on Haute World:

I love this lookbook. Read her whole run down of the store and check out some
more hot looks here.

Check out these style files! There are tons. It's like visual candy. My favorites:

Found on Ana Lee via Gala Darling.

Lazy Sunday

2009-08-30T19:47:00.003-06:00

Instead of getting things done, I am playing with scraps of fabric.

I love Sundays.

And Many More:

2009-08-30T18:33:00.004-06:00

Dear lovely friends:

Thank you. It was, dare I say, the Best Birthday Ever.

And teaser: I have a really cool project I've been working on that I will share with everyone soon!

This or that:

2009-08-26T14:48:00.003-06:00

Okay, lets have a vote:

The yellow canvas heels, or the red wingtipped boots?
Now that I see them together, it seems like I have an unrealized urge to dress like Ronald McDonald. Whatevs, I'm cool with that.

I Like Your Style:

2009-08-24T15:54:00.004-06:00

Venetia Scott. Love her styling. Love her photography. Love her styling combined with Teller's photography. Here's a mix of it all; eat up:

Source: TFS

Slightly eerie, sad landscapes, and animal heads? I'm in.

I will do it for you:

2009-08-16T08:12:00.000-06:00

In case you're feeling tough:

In case you're feeling wanderlust:

Etsy window shopping is a fine art.
Boots here, luggage here.

See My Vest:

2009-08-13T08:52:00.005-06:00

See my vest! See my vest! Made from genuine gorilla chest!

Actually, it's just leather:

I LOVE leather. I love the way it smells, and feels. I particularly love this swath of it, in midnight blue. I love it so much that it took me a good maybe six months to finally work up the nerve to cut into it. The design isn't off the wall awesome or anything, and I actually had something more like this all saint's gilet in mind, but I didn't have that much leather to work with.

All things considered, I'm pretty happy with the results.
(Note For Those Who Don't Know Me Well: The above statement is actually my naturally exuberant way of expressing glee.)

What I've been up to:

2009-08-09T13:40:00.000-06:00

1. Dabbling in making some lingerie type stuff:

2. Playing with the camera. Okay, my boyfriend took this one, but I still played:

080409:

2009-08-04T09:15:00.003-06:00

Hi! Yeah, I, uh....

Hmm, well maybe if I...

No, that's weird too.

Oh, fuck it.

I'm not sure how much I'm into posting pictures of myself just for the sake of posting pictures of myself (and what I wear and all. because what I wear isn't so revolutionary really. Look, it's a shirt! And pants! And... woah, are those shoes? Daring!) I did kind of start this blog because of that- I'm not someone who's super comfortable in front of a camera, or being looked at, so it's something of an exercise in that. But I don't really like exercise.

I guess I'm still trying to find a voice. In life, in the internet. I don't know. Thoughts?

072909

2009-07-31T09:43:00.005-06:00

Oh, hi there!

You seem to have caught me doing some night gardening in my badass fringe jacket, as naturally I would.

Why? Well it's a little hot during the day to be wearing a fringe jacket around while I water and weed! That would be silly.

You have to consider these things.

Jacket recently acquired from Spanish Moss Vintage.

Goedemorgen!

2009-07-27T09:30:00.004-06:00

I kind of love this:

Too bad I am on a money diet. Why? Because come October, I will be blissfully exchanging all my USD for Euros, because I will be in Amsterdam.

So. Damn. Excited.

I'm going for an art show/book release that I'm participating in, which means a lot of my almost two week stay is going towards preparation for that, but that doesn't mean a girl can't have some fun.

So, a plea: any residents/frequent visitors out there? Any recommendations for things to do and see and spend all my money on? Please share!

(PS, you can find the dress here.)

My house is my bag, because I have a lot of stuff:

2009-07-23T08:59:00.002-06:00

Everyone's doing what's-in-my-bag posts, and I love it. I'm nosy that way. But instead of reciprocating in kind, I'm going to do a (rather premature) half-unpacked art studio post:

Click below for more close up photos of my crap/treasures.

Finally started unpacking the place this weekend. I'm not going to get too settled, because I still need to paint and other repairs, but I very much needed to be able to find my scissors, chalk, pins, etc. so I could at least work on things in the meantime.

I love a parade:

2009-07-21T09:08:00.006-06:00

The weekend we were moving from our apartment to our new house was also Pride Weekend here in Denver. And the parade route was directly between our old and new place. And when you're sweating it out in a big ol' truck, wearing khaki cutoffs and a men's tank top and smelly work boots and eight layers of dust and scratches, waiting in traffic as the parade goes by with everyone drinking and wearing costumes and feathers and floats and beads and... fuck it, I wasn't going to miss out.

Because how could I miss a parade with electro-dance music?

My only regret is that my camera ran out of batteries after only ten minutes or so, and so I have no photo of the ten foot tall Rosie the Robot float with the four guys in leather bikini bottoms dancing around it.

How am I supposed to pretend/ I never want to see you again:

2009-07-17T09:17:00.007-06:00

I'm not one for maxims: You must do this, you must not do that, white before labor day, no white at weddings, this is the only way kind of stuff. Mostly because whenever I've found myself sitting solidly on one opinion, I will almost always be on the other side of that opinion within a couple years. At least, with the trivial things.

Like mustard (the food). I used to hate mustard. Now I love it. Yellow, Dijon, horseradish, anything.

And then there's navy (the color). Another thing I hated- probably too many school uniforms growing up to be unbiased towards it. But now, it is only with great restraint that I don't douse myself in navy until I look like a flight attendant.

The list goes on- gold jewelry, bright red nails. And think of all the things I would have been missing out on:

Particularly the painfully gorgeous YSL ring- navy AND gold. Although, I guess I AM missing out on that, but whatev.

Of course there are still things I don't like- khaki pants and boot cut pants come to mind (probably also thanks to middle school). But I don't even bother saying "never" anymore, because I know I will come around eventually if I do.

What about you? Do you love something you used to hate?

071209

2009-07-15T09:25:00.006-06:00

I think I'm back! I still don't have internet in my house, but I still believe that I may get around to it someday. Dreams make the world go 'round and all.

Meanwhile, I tried to find a farmer's market on Sunday. The park where it's (allegedly) held is huge, and I didn't have the foresight to figure out where exactly in the park it was, but I did find a Black Art's Festival. And in that festival, I acquired this hat:

And a free Sunny D. So a successful day, regardless.

Amazing:

2009-07-08T15:09:00.004-06:00

I know these will be/probably already are all over the place soon, but I can't help it:

Doesn't it just break your heart a little?

Givenchy haute couture F/W 09, courtesy of Jak and Jil.

If Hermes Were a Fetish Store:

2009-06-30T08:50:00.004-06:00

Fleet Ilya's lookbook pretty much speaks for itself, but I can't resist their own self-description of being "simply the epitome of luxury bondage."

A sampling:

I'm pretty enamored with all the belts in particular, but more than that I am completely giddy over the concept. Anything that's a little tongue in cheek, but still totally wearable, has my total support.

Meanwhile, posting will be slow for a while- moving kind of messes up everything. For example, I have some really awesome photos I took this weekend that I want to Show-and-tell here. Too bad I have no idea where my card reader/usb cord is. Or where anything is, right now. But soon!

Meisel in the Morning:

2009-06-25T08:21:00.003-06:00

I've been silly busy this month- but at least I'm at the home stretch now. One of the busy-ness sources is definitely moving, and I feel like everywhere I look there's a mess. I'm a pretty organized person by nature, so it isn't doing wonders for my soul.

But on the other hand, maybe that's why this Meisel editorial, featuring heaps of sequined clothes and worn down shoes and general luxurious mess is particularly resonant with me at the moment. Even though my mess involves fewer couture dresses and more empty pizza boxes.

Oh. and this:

Different shoot, clearly, but still Meisel. It struck my fancy because I originally thought it was Tori Spelling, and the absurdity of that made me so so happy. But then it turns out it's actually Madonna. Effing Madonna, always ruining my mornings. Still, I include it anyway because I'm not going to let her get me down. Power to the people!

(Yes, I've had some coffee.)

Sources: Foto Decadent

Rock Candy:

2009-06-18T15:42:00.006-06:00

Like the diabetic who wants nothing more in the world than a big piece of sugary candy, so it is that I cannot stop browsing jewelry even though it may never be mine. (And I have to link to this so often that I may need to just put an explanation about why I can't wear jewelry in the sidebar.) I'm starting to think that maybe I should just buy it, and then wear it around when I'm alone like Blanche DuBois in a Streetcar Named Desire. It may come to that.

And when it does, I will be ready:

Sources: Alexis Bittar, Earth Relics, Jody Candrain. Background photo from flikr.

I love raw, unfinished jewelry like this. Reminds me of rock candy, which I haven't had in way too long.

Brilliant idea: rock candy necklace? Or is that just a sticky idea?

Alexa:

2009-06-15T15:42:00.005-06:00

I'm a pretty big fan of hers too. Not a full blown girl-crush, but the makings are definitely there. She's just so adorable!

Source: Harper's Bazaar UK, via Foto Decadent

The rest of the spread after the jump.

The Picture of _ ___:

2009-06-12T09:39:00.005-06:00

A little doodle I did this morning. It's not done, but I'm leaving it for now since I should probably get some actual work done as I am leaving early today to close on my house (!!!). I thought I'd post it anyway because I like it so far, and also because I will probably ruin it when I try the face. Faces don't come easily to me, and because of that I avoid them, and because of that, they are hard, and so on.

Free thumbs up to anyone who can guess who this is though! Hint: He's probably one of the most endearing designers ever and I would really love to go out for drinks and dessert with him. Plus, you know, I like his clothes.

Edit: Answer after the jump!

You all guessed it, it's Alber Elbaz! Thanks for the sweet comments. I think I will do a designer series!

The Picture of Dorian Leigh:

2009-06-12T09:13:00.000-06:00

Source: FotoDecadent

061009:

2009-06-10T08:42:00.002-06:00

Of note:

I wear a lot of neutrals. Especially when it's cloudy out.

It is really awkward editing photos of yourself at work.

New shoes. I feel particularly mammoth in them, even though I don't think they're taller than my other shoes. I had my usual instant attraction when I saw them that goes something like "Those are pretty ugly. I need to try them on."

I love this leather fringe necklace thing. I got it at a local craft show/sale last fall. I was also a vendor, and when we closed we all just more or less traded our wares with each other. I wish I got this girl's name though, because she deserves some serious cred.

Bullet points suit me, I think.

Camilla Akrans:

2009-06-08T10:22:00.000-06:00

I am especially into Camilla Akrans' photos lately. Her color palates are always exquisite, at least for my taste, and these photos in particular make me think of a nostalgia of summer.

Source: FotoDecadent

You can check out a more well-rounded collection of her work here.

Have I told you lately that I like you

2009-06-05T10:28:00.006-06:00

Thought I'd post this outfit not because it's particularly stellar, but because it has a cardigan/sweater/thing I made:

I was originally going to make it out of a knit material, but then I got sidetracked at the fabric store. I also made it maybe a little bit too big- it's supposed to be oversized, but it may be a bit much. I tend to like sewing drapey things just because there's more room for error, and tailoring requires a precision I'm not quite sure I posses. But maybe it's time to try anyway- floral bustier for summer?

More photos after the jump.

I'm So Into You:

2009-06-04T08:56:00.005-06:00

Chloe Sevigny AND some bonus Kate Lanphear in these behind-the-scenes photos from the Elle shoot:

Source: Elle

Check out the rest here if you like.

060109:

2009-06-01T08:41:00.002-06:00

Well I went out looking for flats, but I came back with a shirt-dress-thing and belt instead:

I just couldn't resist the leathery heft of it, or the eagle. I need to poke a new hole in it, because it's far too big, but I like the tied up look anyway. And the shirt dress has this great pleated, tuxedo bib kind of detail that I love, and it finally gives me the means to try to crack the formula to this.

Also, if I look like I'm about to sneeze in the above photo, it's because I am.

Hey, what size are you:

2009-05-27T16:48:00.004-06:00

Because these lovely things are a size 6:

Why is it that all the best shoes are a size too small for me? So unfair. But someone should have them, so check them out here.

Hey, it's Tuesday already:

2009-05-26T08:48:00.004-06:00

I couldn't find the cover, but below is a three page spread of Helena Christensen and her home from an issue of French Vogue, as photographed by The Selby.

Because what goes better with your morning coffee than being a voyeur into other people's homes and lives?

Source: I can't quite remember where I found these- sorry, Internet!

Sketchy:

2009-05-20T13:32:00.003-06:00

While I'm no Danny Roberts, I've lately had some free time to catch up on sketching, which is always nice. The images may be familiar to you since they're all referenced from a humongous inspirational image folder I keep.

Except for the penguin. That one's all me.

Dress, 1; Lauren, 0.

2009-05-19T23:09:00.001-06:00

Well, last night I finished the dress I've been intermittently working on. And, it turns out, I don't like it. It came out okay, it's not a complete disaster or anything, but its just not really working for me. Eventually I will salvage it, and then I will post photos, but for now I can't look at it anymore.

So lets look at other people's dresses, that I love, that have been successfully made, and that also are not even a tiny bit reminiscent of mine:

I want all three of these.

And at least now I'm free to start the next sewing project that's been running through my brain: a leather vest.

Sources: All dresses found at candystore collective.

Imaginary Dress Up:

2009-05-18T15:33:00.001-06:00

It's Monday, I am "lightly tasked" at work, and just recently watched The Sound of Music. So what better time to gush about, and pretend to be a stylist for, one of my favorite villains, Baroness Schrader?

I almost always like the villains best in movies. They're just usually a lot more interesting, and also frequently better dressed. Hello, Maleficent? Awesome headdress and cape, and such great bone structure!

So I always secretly rooted for the Baroness. Maria was great and all, but the Baroness pulled off some fantastic clothes. And at the end of the movie, when (Spoiler!) the captain starts to break things off with her, and before he can get to it she does it first? Spectacular.

So I decided to play dress up with her, and pick out some things she would wear if the movie were made today. Although, if the movie really were made today, her character would probably have the latest LV bag and a french manicure, but whatever. It's my game and I make the rules.

It turns out, the Baroness likes a lot of Roland Mouret, a long with other labels like Fendi and McQueen and of course some Anglomania. Arian is pretty close to Anglo, right?

051409

2009-05-14T08:50:00.003-06:00

I mostly wanted to post this to show this skirt I made some time ago:

It's made out of a tablecloth I got ("got" = "took from my aunt") in Peru, made using Camille's puff skirt sewing instructions.

I wish I had gotten some closeups, but I was too busy trying to figure out how to get back down from the ledge while wearing my ridiculous Givenchy "inspired" Aldo boots.

But I am now the proud owner of a sweet DSLR! So no more low quality photos!

Smell ya later:

2009-05-11T13:20:00.004-06:00

I don't have very good eye sight, thanks partly to a career in computer arts and hobbies that involve things done three inches from my face (drawing, crocheting, carving linoleum). My hearing is also subpar. But I have a good sense of smell/taste. And so I am completely fastidious about perfume.

And since you all were so kind in helping me pick my chucks, then maybe you could help me find a new scent...

Chanel Mademoiselle was my first real perfume- oh, about six years ago- and I still love the way it smells. Floral, but almost peppery, and it has a nice mild drydown that stays well on me. BUT: a couple years ago, I started smelling it on people more and more frequently, and smell is so personal. Plus, it was just time for a change.

So I eventually moved on, to Prada Infusion D'Iris. Which I liked at first- nice iris scent (obviously) without being too old lady. It fades fast, but that's . And then, one day, something switched. Suddenly, it smelled like baby powder to me. Which made me think of baby diapers. And I'm not even a baby person to begin with. So, I went from cautiously liking it to near disgust over night. Smells can be volatile like that.

Onward, to Viktor and Rolf's Flowerbomb. It was love at first sniff for me. I like the initial bloom of Flowerbomb- it's floral, but still complex, not too sickly or young. But the drydown on me is very vanilla, and I'm not a vanilla fan at all. Sigh.

I circled around back to the Chanel for a while, but it felt too much like going back in time. Lately I've been wearing the Prada, which I find much less offensive this time around, probably because it reminds me of last summer and that's very agreeable now that it's almost summer again. But you never know when it will turn and smell like baby again. Ugh.

Darker notes like amber and vetiver and sandalwood tend to give me headaches, so I try to just avoid them (a few winters ago, I tried Lancome Hypnose, but I found myself always nursing a headache). And cheap perfumes usually just smell like alcohol to me.

I have a very tortured relationship with scent, obviously.

So does anyone have any good recommendations? I'm looking for something a little more green this summer, but I'm not even sure where to begin. I've been pondering Hermes Un Jardin en Mediterranee or Prada Infusion de Fleur d'Oranger, although I'm definitely very open minded and up for a one note or something more a-traditional.

Help!

Vacancy:

2009-05-11T12:31:00.002-06:00

I just feel really blah lately. I need to do something to shake things up.

Lina Scheynius for Another Magazine, S09, via fotodecadent

Long Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply:

2009-05-11T08:44:00.003-06:00

Just engaging in my daily inner struggle to grow my hair out/chop it all off again.

Sources: KnightCat, fffound

Fancy Pants/ No Pants/ Not Pants Related:

2009-05-08T08:54:00.005-06:00

So, to summarize my life:

I've never wanted an LV bag, well, at all, but I would do backflips in clown make up if it got me any of the Sofia Coppola designs. And it's not even just because of my enormous girl crush on her.
Note: I would, however, be willing to settle for the golden swan faucet.

Miu Miu for French Playboy. It's pretty old, but it still kills me.

I just plain like this. I don't know why. I guess I just respond to things that are sorted, and with ribbons no less.

Photo Sources: Glamorous Side Project, unsure

It was Summer today:

2009-05-07T22:25:00.001-06:00

Outfit posts can be dangerous.

This is precisely why I have so many scars.
Actual outfit, a long with lots of other photos from my day, after the jump.

I had an awesomely lazy day of bike riding, cookie baking, and crocheting, so I didn't exactly get all dressed up, but I felt like posting anyway. I do what I want.

I love this bag. It's from Peru and it's really more of a hammock that also holds things.

I also love my bike.

Her name is Sal. Old Sal, actually. The salvation army turned her down, which is how I got her. She was a little rougher then. There were cigarette butts and cobwebs in the gears.

And one day soon, I am going to find the grip tape of my dreams- which is blue with white polka dots- and then I will commit to actually putting handles on my bike.

Mortified is one of the best books ever for afternoons in the park. It's excerpts of old diary entries from people's childhoods. Amazing. I love other people's stuff.

I also love my tortoise, Xandor. She was a little jealous of my trip to the park, so we hung out in the backyard when I got back. Look at her frolic!

Just because she's a reptile, doesn't mean she can't be fabulous:

2009-05-07T14:39:00.002-06:00

Spent some quality time with my tortoise, Xandor, today:

This photo is actually from last summer, when my friends and I decided to give her a makeover. I think she really enjoys getting dressed up some times. After all, she is a girl... um, probably.

Photos from today to come a bit later.

Still going:

2009-05-03T21:05:00.004-06:00

Hey, remember that dress I've been contemplating? It's not done at all, but I did finally make some progress on it:

Click below for more photos!

It's not exactly my original vision, but I am really a beginner sewer, and I drafted the pattern myself (with a fair amount of trial and error on muslin). So I am still happy with how it's going. I'm going to get some solid bias tape, in a blue or grey or maybe red or orange, and use that to finish all the raw edges, and I think that will give it a bit more structure and composition.

And please excuse the blurry pictures. I didn't feel like breaking out the tripod and my camera is low end and doesn't handle anything other than bright light very well.

All you need:

2009-05-02T13:14:00.001-06:00

Source: Garance Dore

Classic jeans, white t, good shoes.

Speaking of the shoes: Does anyone know what they are? Chloe, maybe?

Sneaks:

2009-04-29T09:36:00.008-06:00

I'm not a sneakers girl. I'm not even really a flats girl. I think it has to do with being short. But it is what it is. Still, I have a pair of pumas, that I love, because they're like wearing socks with rubber soles- so comfortable- I wear them for anything that's even a little bit grimy- running, playing sports, house painting and remodeling, etc. I even wore them most of the way when I went backpacking on the Inca Trail- and nothing else really. They're a little on the rough side and I like them that way.

But with summer finally almost here, I'm more attracted to the sneaker look, and I think I know which way I want to go:

OR:

But which one? I originally went looking for something classic, like the top one, but being who I am, I can't resist the tongue in cheek humor of the second pair. Does it take away the classic element? And will anyone get it, especially here in Denver, so long after the initial Hindmarch tote rush? Do I want to explain my shoes to strangers? Do I care?

I had no idea sneakers would bring on this kind of existential angst.

042909:

2009-04-29T09:22:00.002-06:00

Vest: Grandfather's, Dress: Second hand Charlotte Ronson, Boots: ebay

Hand-me-downs from grandparents are the best.

This vest used to belong to my grandfather. He gave some of his old suits to my boyfriend, and we picked two to get altered to fit him well. (Sadly, two is plenty. We live very informal lives.) One of the suits is a three piece that included this vest. The fact that I love three piece suits on men is what stops me from actually altering the vest to fit me, instead of just tying it up in the back.

I also have a black wool sweater that belonged to my great grandmother that I love and wear to death, and scarily enough, my great grandmother's engagement ring, that I decidedly don't wear to death because of A. The jewelry thing and B. I am terrified I will lose it somehow. But vests- those are safe!